I've started watching the entire Eddie Guerrero in WWE run. Again.

He was very good, brothers and sisters.


Eddie Guerrero v Rob Van Dam (Judgment Day, 5/19/02)

I've watched this feud in its entirety over the last few days and it's been a pretty enjoyable trip down memory lane. I don't know if Eddie is Van Dam's best opponent ever, but there's at least a good chance he's the guy who made all of that Rob Van Dam offence look the best. Well not the Candice Michelle forearms as I don't think anybody is going to make those look good, but he'll absolutely lean face-first into all of the kicks and he's really great getting into position for the three dozen spots that involve RVD doing a forward roll or backflip as a setup. This also had a pretty cool layout. It starts out with Van Dam being too slippery for Eddie, so Eddie takes a powder while raging in Spanish. In their Backlash match the previous month Eddie spent a chunk of time working over RVD's back. This time they flip it and Van Dam works over the back of Eddie. I really liked some of the ideas here, like Van Dam doing his corner shoulderblocks bit only with Eddie turned towards the turnbuckles so the target is the lower back. They do a surfboard sequence where Eddie tries to claw his way to the ropes, forcing Van Dam to dig him in the ribs to secure his arms, and the way he propelled Eddie in the air with his legs looked pretty impressive. Eddie also takes three of his best in the business monkey flip bumps and there was an awesome bit where RVD got him biting on a head and shoulders fake, then as Eddie was prone on the canvas Van Dam crushed him with the split-legged moonsault. Both guys attempt and miss their frog splash, which effectively works as a reset spot for the finish, and the finish itself rules. Eddie gets caught in a backslide when going for a big European uppercut, then as Van Dam throws a spin kick Eddie grabs his own backslide (honestly looked super slick and not choreographed at all), feet on the ropes, stealing the win. Probably their best match together.


Eddie Guerrero & Brock Lesnar v Rob Van Dam & Bubba Ray Dudley (RAW, 6/3/02)

How about that heel pairing for a dream team? This was really fun. Eddie's a total bump machine and moves around the ring like a man possessed, working from both below and above. When he's working over Van Dam it looks like he's taking out all that frustration at losing the Intercontinental belt, then when he's getting launched around the ring he'll get crazy height on everything. The monkey flip never fails to get a big reaction and his electric chair drop was smooth as silk. I also loved him feigning injury at the beginning before jumping RVD as his back is turned. Lesnar is another guy who makes all of Van Dam's stuff look legit, largely because he'll take those kicks flush in the mouth. Offensively Lesnar is who we know he is and it's easy to say with hindsight, but that guy was always going to be a star. He's absolutely ferocious in this and his shoulderblocks might be the best ever. He also takes an AWESOME bump off a Bubba Ray German suplex. Finishing run is short and hectic, with Lesnar hitting the F5 on Van Dam, Bubba appearing from nowhere to tackle him out his boots, and Eddie sneaking the victory with a frog splash on an already-beaten RVD.